The City and County of San Francisco, through the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), are providing incentives to residents and businesses who install photovoltaic (PV) systems on their properties. Systems must be at least one kilowatt (kW) in capacity, and there is no maximum size limit to participate. Different incentive levels are available whether the property is residential, commercial, low-income residential, non-profit, or multi-family residential owned and operated by a non-profit.

First, basic installations of residential systems are eligible for incentives of $2,000. Participants who qualify for CARE, are CALHome enrollees and live in 94107 or 94124 zip codes are eligible for an even higher incentive of $3,000. Residential systems installed by a local installer qualify for an additional incentive of $750. And applicants below the median income can receive a bonus incentive of up to $7,000.

Commercial businesses and non-residential buildings owned by a non-profit, or occupied by a non-profit and owned by government entities receive a capacity-based incentive of $1,500 per kW. Commercial businesses can receive a maximum amount of $10,000, and the cap for non-profits is $120,000. Multi-unit residential buildings that are operated by a non-profit may receive $3,500 per kW up to a maximum of $60,000.

To qualify for incentives through this program, applicants must have first applied for and received approval for an incentive through the statewide California Solar Initiative. Applicants can receive both incentives in addition to the federal tax credit.

The San Francisco Solar Energy Incentive Pilot Program was originally funded with $3 million from the SFPUC renewable energy fund, which comes from the sale of power generated by the Hetch Hetchy dam. The renewable energy funds previously provided funding just for solar installations on city buildings, which is expected to continue with a portion of the fund.